Prevalence of antibody to Toxoplasma gondii in the moose (Alces alces americana Clinton) of Nova Scotia, Canada.
The prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii was investigated in the sera of 125 moose taken by hunters in 5 countries of Nova Scotia. Nineteen of these sera (15%) were positive by the indirect passive hemagglutination test, with titers above 1:64. This study adds further evidence to the prevalence of antibodies to T. gondii in the wildlife, extending this evidence to eastern Canada. The possibility that humans may acquire toxoplasmosis by ingesting undercooked infected meat from game animals is supported by the results of this investigation; the implications of these findings to public health are obvious.
Siepierski
S J
SJ
Department of Microbiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Tanner
C E
CE
Embil
J A
JA
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D003670:Deer / Q000469:parasitology*; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D009674:Nova Scotia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology*
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan